Navigation and Communications Systems Technical Fellow

About this role

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

At the Mission Payloads Division (MPD), we are pioneers in remote sensing systems that guide our country’s space enterprise. Our talented and dynamic people create and flourish in electronics, sensors, radar, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced data network domains. We boldly advance technology through our research and development and then forward to demonstration and integration.   With innovative laboratories and prototyping, MPD delivers groundbreaking results. We guide our Department of Defense, intelligence community, and civil clients to enhance national productivity and security and tackle the most critical missions.  Bring your intelligence and creative spirit and join us at MPD!

We are seeking a Technical Fellow in Navigation and Communications Systems, creating a new leadership opportunity for impact across our National Security Space customers. This role will drive strategic development across the DoD, Intelligence Community (IC), civil and commercial mission areas, creating national-level impact for secure, scalable, and resilient navigation and communication systems in dynamic and contested operating environments.

The Technical Fellow will shape the design of nav and comm capabilities, the creation of resilient and robust solutions, the utilization of commercial and alternate PNT sources and enable the development and integration of new waveforms into satellite-to-user implementations. The Technical Fellow is responsible for strategies and roadmaps to advance nav and comm capabilities, and they will mentor Aerospace staff to strengthen our technical depth in these rapidly evolving fields.  They will also work with Aerospace’s Chief Technology Officer to drive corporate strategies for nav and comm and support the corporate Technical and Strategic Investment priorities.

This Technical Fellow will be a key leader for MPD, the division responsible for Aerospace’s RF and optical communications architectures, payloads, sensing, processing and related electronics solutions.  As Aerospace’s largest engineering division, MPD is at the cutting edge of technology supporting customers in multiple frontiers such as AI/ML based sensing, signals and network orchestration, resilient network architectures and agile processing, prototype development of nav and comm systems and their associated  waveforms which mitigate threats and ensure protected capabilities.

This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, CA. 

What You’ll Be Doing • Work directly with government customers to drive the rapid development of innovative space nav and comm capabilities to meet the needs of a multitude of programs in National Security Space

• Serve as a collaborative thought-leader and technical authority on such architectures, commercial integration strategies, and mission-critical field tests and deployments

• With unique knowledge of customer challenges across the space enterprise, lead strategic planning to help grow Aerospace’s leadership role

• Drive the development of mission critical nav and comm capabilities by aiding the design, acquisition, and operation of secure, scalable, and resilient space and ground solutions

• Advise and influence key Aerospace leaders on IR&D investments, positioning R&D programs for broader community adoption and transition

• Collaborate across the Aerospace enterprise and engineering matrix to integrate activities for a more impactful approach across customer base

• Identify prototyping opportunities for Aerospace and help develop internal laboratory testbeds necessary to position Aerospace for leadership role with both commercial providers and government stakeholders

• Mentor and advise staff in navigation and communication architectures, methods, and principles and in the introduction of new approaches to different applications

• Provide input to management on technical succession planning and skillset requirements

What You Need to be Successful Minimum Requirements: • Bachelor’s degree in STEM, Engineering, or a related technical field

• 15+ years’ experience in navigation and communication systems, with a track record of innovation and development of new technology solutions in these areas

• Foundational understanding and direct experience leading technology development of navigation and communication systems, associated space and ground networks, and associated resilient solutions

• Specific experience in designing, modeling and testing navigation and communication architectures for government applications

• Experience leading nav and comm related R&D initiatives

• Demonstrated multi-disciplinary skills to create impactful teams across related technologies

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and engage with external stakeholders

• Proven ability to engage with senior government officials, industry partners, and research communities to shape strategies

• Demonstrated leadership in mentoring and developing technical talent across organizations

• This position requires ability to attain Top Secret/SCI clearance and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance; (ability to be vetted for US Government Compartmented and Special Access Programs)

How You Can Stand Out It would be impressive if you have one or more of these: • An advanced degree in

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